The world we live in has changed. More than ever before, the majority of us spend our days staring at a screen of some sort. Though technology has without a doubt made our lives easier, it has also contributed to physical problems that were not an issue forty, thirty, or even twenty years ago. Digital eye strain, also know as computer vision syndrome, being one of these problems.

What Causes It?

An astounding 65 percent of American adults reported exhibiting the signs of DES. These symptoms include: sore, tired, burning, dry, and itchy eyes, headaches, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, and much more. All of this can be incredibly hindering. According to WebMD, DES arises due to your eyes performing at full capacity in order to process what is happening on your screen. As images continue to change and your eyes move about the screen, the ocular muscles are working to process the onslaught of information. Along with this, DES can be caused by a number of habits, including: poor lighting, screen glare, bad posture, preexisting vision problems, etc.

Blue Light

As most of us know, sunlight is made up of colors on the visible light spectrum (ROYGBV). Blue light is a specific range on this spectrum. It is described as high energy due to its very short wavelength. Because of this, blue light has the potential to cause short and long-term damage to your eyes. The short-term being symptoms of digital eye strain and, furthermore, the disruption of your circadian rhythm and even an increased risk of macular degeneration.

How To Prevent

While it might seem impossible to outrun the effects of DES, as we are in the height of the digital age, there are actually a number of steps you can take to protect your vision. Become aware of what your body is doing when you are on the computer.

Blinking

Blinking keeps the surface of your eyes moist. It’s a no-brainer that the less you blink, the more prone your eyes are to dry eye. Make the conscious effort to blink more.

Seating and Computer Position

You’ll find that it’s more comfortable to look downward toward your computer screen than any other position. Experts say that the screen should be between 15 to 20 degrees below eye level (as measured from the center of the screen). As for the position of your chair, you should sit upright in a chair that conforms comfortably to your body. One with arms for support would also work in your favor. Remember, if a position seems uncomfortable, then it probably isn’t the correct way to situate yourself. Adjust your body while also keeping these guidelines in mind.

Breaks

It’s vital to take breaks while using electronics for long periods of time. Studies suggest that 60 percent of people spend more than 6 hours a day in front of a digital device. If you are one of these people and fail to take any breaks during this amount of time, there is no telling the effects it will have on your eyes.

The 20-20-20 rule is exceptional in preventing eye fatigue. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away, for 20 seconds. It’s an easy and discreet practice that can immensely decrease the strain put on your eyes.

Computer Glasses

To make up for the heavy increase in cases of DES, we, at 39DollarGlasses.com, offer our Blue495 Anti-Glare Coating. This unique coating is equipped with state-of-the-art nano technology that blocks harmful blue light. Subsequently protecting your eyes from these harmful rays. Computer glasses are a very easy and effective way to stop headaches, blurred vision, and all other symptoms discussed earlier.

The world is a very different place than it used to be. The huge increase in technological advances has made it near impossible to avoid screens of all kinds. This makes it extremely important to take extra care of your eyes. Become aware of what you do throughout the day when it comes to electronics and how you handle them. After that, it’s very easy to make simple changes in order to ensure the best for your vision and eye health.

What is anti-reflective coating and how will it benefit you? Anti-Reflective (AR) coating cuts down on the frustrating glare on your lenses. It also helps reduce any glare from hitting your eyes at night or while using a computer. AR coating works by increasing the light transmission through the lenses, providing you with the clearest, sharpest vision at all times.

Another benefit of anti-reflective is its ability to reduce glare from light in photographs. Therefore, you will no longer have to worry about taking your eyeglasses on and off for pictures in order to avoid that dreadful glare across your lenses. Try leaving them on and see how different your eyes look – you will actually be able to see them without having an annoying glare covering the lenses! Once you wear a pair of glasses with AR coating, you will immediately notice the difference in the comfort and vision of your lenses. It will be tough to ever order another pair without it!

Furthermore, anti-reflective coating is also amazing for computer use and night driving by eliminating the additional glare from computer screens and low light conditions. Yet, AR coating does not completely block out blue light emitted from computer screens, tablets, and mobile phones. However, we also offer our Blue495 lens coating. This coating blocks High-Energy Visible (HEV) blue light emitted by digital devices and artificial light (such as florescent and LED), which are known to have some harmful effects to the eyes and often disrupt natural sleep cycles. The blue blocking coating will also help reduce eyestrain, which can be a result of staring at your computer or phone screen for an extensive period of time.

To sum it up, AR coating is something that will enhance your vision and improve the overall quality of your glasses. You will find little moments like driving home from work, shopping online, and taking family pictures a lot more enjoyable. When shopping for your next pair of glasses, be sure to look into all of the benefits of coatings on your lenses. We all know the frame represents your style, but your lenses are the key to seeing clearly and feeling comfortable, and you definitely don’t want to take that for granted.

If you’ve ever been out to dinner with someone over 40 and they look like their forehead is about to pop a vein while trying to read the menu, then you know what Presbyopia looks like. Simply put, Presbyopia is a normal change that takes place to the muscle in our eyes responsible for focusing. As we age, the muscle weakens in a slow and predictable way leading to worsening vision while reading and engaging in other near point activities.

As we move along the ladder of time, our “number” goes up. It starts around +1.00 in our early 40’s and caps out around +2.50 for most people in our mid 60’s. To correct Presbyopia we have several options. The most common is for people who never wore eyeglasses before to simply wear “drugstore readers” that match to their age. If someone already wears glasses for distance, then they have the option of prescription reading glasses, bifocals, or progressive “no-line” bifocals. These three options will take into consideration the pre-existing distance prescription. Of these three, the most popular option is a progressive lens. These lenses have no line and allow the person to see clearly at every distance. In fact, the word progressive derives from the fact that the prescription changes in a “progression” from top to bottom of the lens. These lenses come in many designs depending on the needs of the consumer. One very popular option is to add anti-glare (also referred to as anti-reflective) coating. Depending on the brand, this coating has a green or blue hue and reduces reflections from the lens. It greatly improves the cosmetic appearance of lenses as well as sharpening vision while driving at night. These coatings are all similar with some brands promoting additional features, such as hydrophobic or oleophobic, which improve the surface smoothness and reduce smudging.

Over the last few years, a new area has evolved in eye care aimed at promoting the dangers of blue spectrum light on eye health and vision. Many of the leading lens manufacturers have seized on this with the promotion of lenses and lens coatings to specifically block the blue spectrum of light. Some manufacturers have developed lens materials that contain blue-blocking elements within them. More popular are anti-glare coatings with blue-blocking elements that are added to the lenses; Blue495 is such a lens. The Blue495 coating can be added to a vast array of lenses including 1.67 high index, polycarbonate, Transitions, HD Progressives, and many more.

The unique properties of Blue495 allow it to help protect against the development of macular degeneration, reduce eye fatigue caused by exposure to digital screens, and improve headaches induced by LED lights. These are just some of the benefits of Blue495. As research continues, we expect more exciting reasons to add Blue495 to every pair of glasses!

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